Expression levels of cholinesterase and haptoglobin in serum of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections and their value in evaluation of prognosis

Objective To explore the expression levels of cholinesterase (CHE) and haptoglobin (HPT) in serum of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTI) and their value in evaluation of prognosis.

Methods A total of 112 children with RRTI were selected and included in the RRTI group, and 95 normal children who underwent physical examination during the same period were randomly selected and included in control group. According to the severity of the disease, patients in the RRTI group were divided into mild group of 38 cases, moderate group of 40 cases, and severe group of 34 cases. The levels of serum CHE, HPT, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), as well as CD3⁺ and CD3⁺CD4⁺ were detected. The correlation between CHE and HPT in RRTI children was analyzed. The predictive value of serum CHE and HPT expression levels on the prognosis of RRTI children was analyzed.

Results The CHE expression level in the RRTI group was significantly lower than that in the control group, while the HPT level was significantly higher (P < 0.05). The CHE level in severe RRTI patients was significantly lower than that in the moderate and mild groups, and the moderate group was significantly lower than the mild group; the HPT level in severe RRTI children was significantly higher than that in the moderate and mild groups, and the moderate group was significantly higher than the mild group (P < 0.05). The CHE expression level in RRTI children was negatively correlated with the HPT expression level (r=-0.637, P < 0.001). The levels of IL-1, IgA, IgM, CD3⁺ and CD3⁺CD4⁺, in the RRTI group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while the IL-6 level was significantly higher (P < 0.05). The CHE expression level in RRTI children was positively correlated with IL-1, IgA, IgM, CD3⁺and CD3⁺CD4⁺, and negatively correlated with IL-6; the HPT expression level was negatively correlated with IL-1, IgA, IgM, CD3⁺ and CD3⁺CD4⁺, and positively correlated with IL-6 (P < 0.05). The serum CHE expression level in RRTI children with good prognosis was significantly higher than that in RRTI children with poor prognosis, while the HPT level was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined prediction of CHE and HPT for the prognosis of RRTI children was higher than that of their individual predictions, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion In the serum of RRTI children, CHE is lowly expressed, while HPT is highly expressed. The combined evaluation of CHE and HPT has high prognostic value for RRTI patients.